Practical Nursing
Practical Nursing
Earn this certificate for FREE using Care Forward Colorado funding! Find out more!
Currently enrolled students in need of academic advising can find their Academic Advisor and schedule an appointment using Navigate or the website: https://www.ccd.edu/org/academic-advising-student-success-center
In three to five semesters, you can develop the skills necessary to be employed as a practical nurse. Check the events calendar for our information session schedule.
CCD's practical nursing certificate program will teach you to care for the physical needs of patients while promoting their health, healing, and wellness.
You will learn how to provide basic patient care, administer medications, and document medical charts. You'll also develop leadership skills that will prepare you to excel in your career. This program offers in-classroom learning, hands-on practice, inpatient simulation labs, as well as 400 hours of clinical rotation in local health care agencies. CCD will provide you with a well-rounded nursing education.
CCD offers two schedule options to maximize flexibility and accessibility for all students:
CCD offers a Full-Time Day Program
- Starts in August (Fall Semester)
- Totals 3 semesters: Fall, Spring and Summer semester
- Applications are accepted the first week of February through the last week of April. Eligible candidates will be invited to participate in interviews in late April.
CCD offers a Part-Time, Evening and Weekend program ideal for working students
- Starts in January (Spring semester)
- Totals 5 semesters: Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring and a Maymester semester
- Applications are accepted from the first week of September through the second week of November. Eligible candidates will be invited to participate in interviews in late November.
As a practical nurse (PN), you will have access to varying employment opportunities.
- In long-term care facilities, the PN is often the team leader providing care to multiple residents.
- In outpatient clinic settings, the PN works in collaboration with doctors in treating and educating patients.
- In-home healthcare settings, the autonomous PN provides in-home care to patients ranging in age from pediatric to geriatric.
- In hospitals, PNs provide routine care in many different departments with varying duties.
Accreditation
The program has accredidation from the Colorado State Board of Nursing. The program is applying for national accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and anticipates its site visit in the spring of 2023. Pending national accreditation, practical nursing graduates' future educational options and career opportunities may be limited.
To learn more about the Colorado State Board of Nursing (CSBON) or to contact this governing body, they may be reached at:
Colorado State Board of Nursing
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350Denver, CO 80202
(303) 894-2430
To learn more about ACEN or to contact this accrediting body, their contact information has been provided below:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3343 Peachtree Rd NEAtlanta, Georgia 30326
(404) 975-5000
Course & Program Fees
Some programs and/or courses may require fees in addition to the base tuition and fees. High-cost course fees are used to support the maintenance and development of the course labs and are embedded within your general tuition.
Tuition |
COF Stipend |
Your Share |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident | $324.70 | $(94.00) | $230.70 |
| Non-Resident | $643.65 | $643.65 |
Financial Aid Eligibility
This program is eligible for federal financial aid.
Your first step is to connect with the Financial Aid office to discover how you can afford college. Our dedicated staff and support services help you wade through all the legal language and get you past the first hurdle to completing your educational goals.
In addition, CCD has $1,000,000 available in scholarships. Apply at CCD.edu/Scholarships.
Stop by the financial aid office on the first floor of the Confluence Building on the Auraria campus for help with the federal financial aid application. Walk-in hours are offered every Wednesday from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. in the Confluence Building, Room 118.
Job Outlook & Salary Information
What Can I Do with My Practical Nursing Certification?
The practical nurse can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, physicians' offices, and private homes.
The employment of licensed practical nurses is projected to grow 11 percent from 2018 to 2028. LPNs will be needed in residential care facilities and in-home health environments to care for older patients.
Percentage-wise, Colorado practical nursing is projected to see very high growth: 31.4% over the 2014 to 2024 decade.
Learn more about this career path by visiting CCD's Career and Transfer Center.
How Much Can I Expect to Earn?
The median annual wage for Practical Nurses was $48,070 in 2021 and is projected to go up in the next 10 years.
The information provided here is by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Program Outcomes
Students who graduate from the Practical Nursing program must take the NCLEX-PN national exam to become licensed as a Practical Nursing.
These statistics show our student’s performance on the NCLEX-PN exam and their employment rate as a Licensed Practical Nurse after passing their NCLEX-PN and obtaining their Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) licenses.
The Practical Nursing program’s retention rate is very high as we are committed to student success in our program. Due to the rigor of the nursing program, attrition can be anticipated. However, our statistics also reflect variables that are not associated with student performance issues, such as student withdrawals, relocations, or emergent scenarios.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate |
Retention Rate |
Employment Rates of Licensed AlumNi |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 80% |
79% |
100% |
| 2022 | 93.3% |
79% |
100% |
Community College of Denver does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its employment practices or educational programs and activities. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. Equal Opportunity is the Law.